He faces charges of "disobedience of lawful orders" after the nation's media council ordered him not to stage his play in public without authorization. If convicted, he can be imprisoned for two years.

"As I understand, the communique from the media council was he should not stage the play in any public theater in Uganda -- meaning he could do in private," said John Onyango, his lawyer. "That was the interpretation."

Cecil staged the play at two small bars in the capital of Kampala by private invitation, according to the lawyer.

CNN attempts to reach the Ugandan department of public prosecutions were unsuccessful.